A federal judge in Manhattan on Wednesday confirmed the freezing of $300 million in cash held by Venezuela's state-run oil company, finding it probable that Exxon Mobil Corp. will win its legal battle against the company.

Venezuela threatened Wednesday to expel a U.S. Embassy official for allegedly conspiring to defeat a referendum championed by President Hugo Chavez, accusing the diplomat of plotting to sway public opinion.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he will not attend the U.N. General Assembly this week, one year after he captured the world's attention when he called President Bush "the devil" during the gathering of world leaders.